(RICHMOND, VA)—Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Rebecca LePrell released the following statement after Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe's announcement that the budget he will introduce next week includes $59 million in funding for upgrades to wastewater treatment plants.

"The Chesapeake Bay Foundation thanks Governor McAuliffe for proposing to invest $59 million in upgrading Virginia's wastewater treatment plants, an important step in protecting the Commonwealth's natural assets and meeting Virginia's commitments under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint. We look forward to working with the Governor and Virginia lawmakers to also ensure funding for programs that assist farmers in putting good conservation practices on the ground and to help local communities to reduce polluted runoff from stormwater."